** Tadamon! supports this Cinema Politica film screening, chronicling the struggles of Syrian refugees. The event will also feature a discussion with director George Kurian, Montreal-based artist Yassin ‘Narcy’ Alsaman, community organizer Oula Hajjar and will be hosted by Ala’a Jarban, a Yemeni
refugee, educator, and activist **

Join Cinema Politica Concordia for the Montreal premiere of THE CROSSING, a film traveling land and sea with Syrian refugees who give a firsthand account of harrowing journeys to new countries and their feats of struggle and hope. Director George Kurian will be joined by Montreal-based artist Yassin ‘Narcy‘ Alsalman and community organizer Oula Hajjar for a post-film conversation. We are also very excited to welcome Ala’a Jarban, a Yemeni refugee, human rights educator and activist, as the evening’s host.

This event is the launch of Cinema Politica’s new Nations & Migrations project, a speaker/film series presented with the generous support of the Inspirit Foundation & Conseil des arts de Montréal. This screening is also co-presented with the Concordia Council on Student Life, the Graduate Students Association – Concordia University, Amnesty International – Group 16 Montreal, Solidarity Across Borders (Cité sans frontières / Solidarity City / Ciudad Solidaria (Montréal)) & Tadamon!.

Admission is by donation ($5-10 suggested). The venue is wheelchair accessible.

THE CROSSING tells the difficult story of individuals forced into displacement and takes us along on one of the most dangerous journeys of our time with a group of Syrians fleeing war and persecution, crossing a sea, two continents and five countries, searching for a place to call home.

On a summer night, a group of Syrians wade quietly into the Mediterranean, with little children, a cat and little packets of food wrapped in cling-film held above their heads to climb into little boats that will take them to a fishing boat waiting in deeper waters. The little boat keels over from imbalanced loading. In the panic in the dark waters to save the children, they lose the cat and most of the food and water they have. A mother of 2 young children wants to return ashore, but it is too late, the police may have reached the beach and the only way available is into the sea.They are journalists, engineers, a musician and a psychologist climbing aboard an old unseaworthy fishing boat, manned by desperate smugglers who have never before sailed beyond coastal fishing waters.They make it to Europe, only to find out that the hardest part of their journey still lies ahead. Months of uncertainty and waiting, living in one centre after another, takes a toll on their spirits, as they confront what being a “refugee” means. [NFI Norway]